You Are Not Alone (Wrenmae)

by **Balderdash** on June 23rd, 2013, 5:06 am

The girl nodded in agreement. "They'll be watching the gates. Easiest to stow away on a boat. They can't search them all, and we can flee to Mura or somewhere else that way."
The young woman grimaced as she knelt down and dug her fingers into the gaps between a pair of cobblestones, "We best get to know each other, I guess." she said with a touch of resentment. "I'm supposed to be your helpless damsel, after all. Maybe he'll make us kiss, too."
Following the bout of snark was a sharp exhale, and a faint crumbling sound as a brick was torn from the street as easily as a skin was torn from a tangerine. "My name's Natalie. No, I don't enjoying being treated as a pretty prize on a pedestal. So don't pretend I'm a precious lily. I got my mark when I was thirteen. My girlhood crush wasn't pleased. Good? Good." She stood. "Now you. Oh, and we should probably start moving before those brutes find out they were tricked."

by **Wrenmae** on June 23rd, 2013, 7:27 am

Wrenmae watched wordlessly as she tore the brick free from its place in the road, raising an eyebrow at the feat of strength. There was more to the pretty face than met the eye, and she shared his own resentment with the extra baggage.

"Leave escaping to me. We'll leave the way we came in, through the front gates."

She stared at him, partly exasperated and another part incredulous. Wrenmae offered no explanation on how he was going to pass through, simply sent his familiar ahead to gather the things in the room, pay the tab, leave a note for Ana and get the horse.

"I was marked when I was ten years old," He said at last, leaning against the alley, "My family paid the price for that. But I've learned to make my peace with it." He left a lot out, it was intended. The woman, after all, was new and information was always power...Ignotus had taught him that.

"I grew up in Alvadas," he continued when her stare pressed him to continue, "Lots of places for a Blighted to hide there...but no one who got close to me fared well. But...you'd know that." He smiled, a mirthless tight grin.

"Best leave the negotiation to me. Sagallius has made some trouble for you to sway many folk, but the same cannot be said of me. We'll be going to Ravok from here, previous orders, but if there's anywhere a Knight will have trouble reaching...it should be there."

Zan reappeared, bags in hand and Wrenmae distributed them among the three of them.

Getting the horse and heading to the gate was not met with any trouble. She wore his cloak low over her head, brushing back her tell-tale blonde locks and keeping her head down.

They approached the gate with ease and the two monks there approached.

"Halt," one said frowning, "We're not allowing any foreigners to exit the city without a thorough search."

"But you've already searched us," Wrenmae lied, "We only returned to the inn to gather one of our forgotten bags before we make way."

With the lie he reinforced it with a cleverly reinacted memory. They remembered checking the two strangers and their things, and the poor man had forgotten one bag at the inn, insisting on returning for it.

The monk blinked several times, turning to his companion that likewise shook his head in bewilderment.

"I...yes, I suppose that would be right. You understand our protection does not extend beyond these walls, correct? If you insist on traveling into the Wildlands so unprotected, you will likely perish there."

"Leave that decision to me," Wrenmae assured with a smile, "Now, let us not waste any more of your time."

The guards nodded slowly, allowing the horse and two riders to pass. As the gates closed behind them, Wrenmae muttered to Natalie,

"There is no such thing as a damsel that needs protecting. You know as well as I do that Vayt favors the strong. You have a weakness, I will be the strength for that weakness. But never expect me to be at your beck and call. If we are to survive we will do it working together."

He thought he could feel her smile on his neck, but he never turned to see.

They left the city as they found it.

Completely unawares of the dangers that had been allowed to pass through their midst.

by **Balderdash** on June 28th, 2013, 6:22 am

Delicious rewards! Happy days and jubilation!

Skill	XP Awarded
Familiary	2
Morphing	2
Tactics	3
Persuasion	2
Stealth	1
Subterfuge	1

Lores: Who Am I?, Waking Up To Watchers, Nyka Is Trippy, Nyka Is Competent, Being Searched, Visited By Sagallius, Borrowing Zan's Heart, Sagallius' Game, Sweetening The Pot, Blighter Natalie, Natalie's Marking Day, Fallout From the Plague, Opening Up

Items and Consequences: Cordas 1.

Hair of Sagallius: Tied around one's finger, this allows Wrenmae to sense how suspicious a person with whom he is making eye contact is of him.

Companion :

I had a lot of fun with this thread, even if I dropped the ball a couple times with your dear companion. Let the game... BEGIN!!!

If you have any questions or concerns about this grade, please PM me. A happy you is a happy Balderdash!